Rep. RODEL M. BATOCABE of Ako Bicol FILES HB 5459, otherwise known as the SUC LAND USE DEVELOPMENT AND INFRASTRUCTURE PLAN, institutionalizing the CONSTRUCTION of DORMITORIES FOR STUDENTS and the DEVELOPMENT of HOUSING SITES for ACADEMIC AND NON ACADEMIC PERSONNEL in all SUCs.

A PARTYLIST lawmaker wants state universities and colleges (SUCs) to provide dormitories and housing sites for their students and employees.

House Bill 5459, authored by Ako Bicol party-list Representative Rodel Batocabe, mandates the SUCs to prepare and implement a land use development and infrastructure plan that shall include the construction of dormitories for students and housing sites for employees.

Batocabe said the land use development and infrastructure plan is envisioned to utilize idle lands and assets within the compound of the state university or college.

He stressed that students of SUCs come from remote areas, neighboring cities and municipalities and from different parts of the country.

“Some students, especially from poor families drop out from school because they cannot afford to pay for the high cost of board and lodging near the school or university,” Batocabe said.

Batocabe also noted the plight of faculty and school staff, who have to hurdle the traffic and other obstacles in coming to the school.

“The faculty and staff of schools should also be assisted by providing housing units for their families while they are employed in the state university or college,” Batocabe said.

Under the proposal, the Board of Regents or Board of Trustees of SUCs shall prepare and implement a land use development and infrastructure plan designed to improve and optimally utilize the resources within the SUCs nationwide.

The land use development and infrastructure plan shall be submitted to the Commission on Higher Education (Ched) within two years after the approval of the measure and may be upgraded periodically as the need arises.

A financial plan, which may include among others, feasibility studies, sources of funding, income, loans, public-private partnerships and other financial schemes and/or arrangements, shall also be submitted to the CHED.

The SUC may seek assistance and cooperation from other government offices or agencies in drawing up the land use development and infrastructure plan.

All government department, agencies and instrumentalities are instructed to extend all possible assistance and cooperation to any SUC in the preparation of its land use development and infrastructure plan. (Sunnex)